Constructed in the twilight of the Gilded Age, 16 East 76th Street is a handsome 1902 brick and limestone neo-Georgian townhouse designed by renowned architects Hoppin & Koen for prominent lawyer Moncure Robinson. More recently this home was renovated and occupied by fashion mogul, Calvin Klein, who sold it to the Republic of Italy to be the residence for their Ambassador to the UN. Mr. Klein purchased this home from the Gucci family. The townhouse occupies one of the most coveted locations in the city, just off Central Park, within one block of the Carlyle and Mark Hotels and close to world-class restaurants, shopping and museums. Casa Tua, an exclusive private social club, just opened in the recently refurbished Surrey Hotel two doors away. The Children's Gate entrance to Central Park, conveniently located near a new playground, Alice in Wonderland statue and toy boat pond, is entered at 76th Street and Fifth Avenue. This is one of the finest townhouse blocks off Fifth Avenue with 12 of the 15 houses on the block (80%) being single unit, 4 times the average. This property provides the only opportunity to purchase a 10,000 square foot townhouse between Fifth and Madison Avenues for less than $24,000,000. Suggested plans and construction estimates at end of photos provided by Drew Lang, Founding Principal of Lang Architecture.
The house has a large footprint, built nearly full on a 102" lot with 16 rooms, including 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, 2 powder rooms and elevator serving six levels in 10,258 square feet, including the 1,693 square foot basement. Impressive features include an exquisite brick and limestone neo-Georgian facade, a grand entrance hall and staircase, a magnificent parlor floor with elegant living room and formal dining room seating 16 for diplomatic dinners, 8 fireplaces, soaring ceilings and brilliant sunlight.
Enter the ground floor through a planted forecourt and two sets of cast iron and glass doors into a grand entrance hall with marble fireplace leading to an elegant staircase. Adjacent to the entrance hall are closets, a powder room and an elevator serving all 6 levels of the house. There is also a service entrance from the street leading to a kitchen, pantry, office and garden at the back of the house.
The parlor floor has 13" ceilings and consists of a large living room, grand stair hall and formal dining room. The living room features French doors opening onto a wrought iron balcony and a marble fireplace. The dining room features a bay window overlooking the garden and a marble fireplace. There is also a large butler's pantry connected to the kitchen downstairs.
The third floor has 11" ceilings and consists of a large wood-paneled library with marble fireplace and a primary bedroom with two large dressing rooms and a windowed primary bathroom.
The fourth floor has 10'6" ceilings and consists of two large bedrooms, each with private bathroom and dressing room. The rear bedroom also has a study.
The fifth floor has 11" ceilings. There is a bedroom in the front with private bathroom and dressing room. The rest of the floor is a sun-flooded modernist penthouse with large loft-like living room, fireplace, enormous skylight, kitchen, butler's pantry and powder room. There is access to a 1600 square foot roof which can easily be developed into a magnificent roof garden.
The 1,693 square foot basement has 2 windowed staff bedrooms, each with bathroom, along with a large laundry room in the rear. In the front is a 110 square foot wine cellar with 13" ceilings. The rest of this level contains numerous storage and mechanical rooms.
Quick Profile
Exuding a cosmopolitan, refined air that is reminiscent of Paris or other European cities, the Upper East Side (the UES, to local cognoscenti) has a reputation as being a bastion of wealth and privilege. Even though it was built by American “royalty” families like the Vanderbilts, Roosevelts, Kennedys, Carnegies and Rockefellers, whose elaborate mansions once anchored Fifth Avenue, there are affordable housing options throughout the neighborhood. The further east you move, away from Central Park and the more commercial avenues, the more likely you are to find quiet, tree-lined streets with historic townhouses and brownstones. Keep your eye out for reasonably priced apartments in pre-war low-rise and even a few high-rise buildings.
With abundant, beautifully landscaped green spaces, including the oasis of Central Park acting like a backyard, the area is quiet and lushly green. You can relax and unwind in John Jay Park, Carl Schurz Park or take a stroll along the East River Promenade. The whole neighborhood seems isolated from the workaday chaos of the city at large. Add to that the history of the neighborhood and the abundance of cultural institutions, and you have a uniquely welcoming neighborhood.
Known for its abundance of high-end retail shopping, especially on Madison Avenue, the Upper East Side is host to the Barneys New York flagship department store. Here you can find upscale goods, fashion and home decor items. You will also find the edgy runway-inspired Alexander McQueen collections. If you are dying to treat your feet to red-soled opulence, be sure to visit the Christian Louboutin boutique. These are only a small sampling of this high-end shopper’s paradise that features everything from designer boutiques that offer the ultimate in haute couture to resale shops where you can find last season’s best on sale at hefty discounts .
There are many unique dining experiences, from fine dining to the casual bite-on-the-go, awaiting you in the UES. Sushi is going through a renaissance in the city, and the best omakase-style sushi can be found at Sasabune on E 73rd Street. Omakase sushi means that you leave the choice of ingredients, preparation method and presentation to the chef. Elegant French cuisine can be experienced at JoJo, E 64th Street, housed in gorgeous townhouse. Just for fun, visit the Lexington Candy Shop on Lexington Avenue, to get a taste of an old-fashioned soda fountain.